Philada. [Pa.] July 20 1778
My dear sir
... I have not yet answerd your Letter of the 26th of June.1 I declind it until I could assure you that the Sum you wishd for, for the Use of your Department, was granted.2 I now have the Pleasure of acquainting you, that it is done and the Money will be orderd on as soon as it arrives here from York Town, which is every hour expected.3 I am in Pain about the Ship in your Harbour.4 Her Owners neglect to put her into Repair, and I fear, some of her officers for Want of Skill and Experience will be at a Loss what to do with her if she should meet with a Storm. What a Pity it is an honest old Pilot, who used to steer successfully through Rocks and Quicksands has lately been dischargd from Service!5 And that he should suffer this hard Usage, only because unknown to him, One who was a hearty well wisher to the Voyage, and was anxious that Capacity and Merit should always govern Promotions, had ventured to declare him the fittest Man to take the Command, when it was thought a Commander would be wanted.—Vanity and Avarice, which create an insatiable Desire of Places and Preferment, without Ability or Intention to fulfill the Duties of them, if gratified, would effect the Ruin of a Country. It would be the Glory of the American Republick, to find Men having no ruling Passion but the Love of our Country, and ready to render her the most arduous Services, with the Hope of no other Reward in this Life, but the Esteem of their Virtuous Fellow Citizens. But this, some tell us, is to wish for more than it is in the Power of human Nature to
give.... Adieu My Friend
SA
L, MHi, Warren-Adams Collection, Adams Papers, Addressed below close: “Hon. l. Warren Esq." Docketed: “Mr. S: Adams/Lettr July 20 1778.” The file copy in the Samuel Adams Papers, NN, differs somewhat from the recipient's copy.
1. See Warren to Adams, 26 June, above.
2. On 16 July Congress ordered that $524,000 be sent to the Continental Navy Board of the Eastern Department. JCC 11: 696.
3. In the file copy, Adams at this point wrote: "The Marine Committee have agreed that the Navy Board shall appoint Commanders for Vessels of War under Twenty Guns." See Warren to Adams, 26 June, above, and Continental Marine Committee to Continental Navy Board of the Eastern Department, 24 July, below.
4. Probably, Continental Navy frigate Raleigh which had just received a new commander, Capt. John Barry. Since Barry was not known in Boston, most of the crew ran from the frigate on his arrival. See Warren to Adams, 26 June, above.
5. Probably, Capt. Thomas Thompson, former commander of Continental Navy frigate Raleigh. He was court-martialed at Boston during the first week of July and dismissed from the navy by 8 July. See Thompson to William Whipple, 1 and 8 July, both above.
